Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has urged his players to become more “horny” ahead of the second leg of their Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland at Old Trafford

Van Gaal and United are under huge pressure to turn around a 2-1 first leg deficit against the Danish champions, yet the room hosting his pre-match press conference was filled with laugher as Van Gaal offered up this humourous quip.

“You are right,” Van Gaal said while responding to a journalists question about the team’s desire, “Your word is fantastic. Desire, hungry, and a lot of times I use the word horny to my players.”

It may be that Van Gaal's words were a little lost in translation, but they made for another entry into his list of unconventional press conference performances.

Van Gaal also confirmed that his keeper David de Gea would miss the Midtjylland tie with the knee injury he picked up in the warm-p for the first game in Denmark last week as he praised the qualities of his next opponents.

“I think Midtjylland has a very good organisation, very detailed,” he added.

“They play with diagonal pressing. I do that also with my team. Not many teams are doing that. And when I see the data of Midtjylland they have always won against English opponents.

“We have to keep the ball better and we have to move the ball quicker. That’s always what we have to do and especially when the opponent is so well organised.”

Van Gaal also offered up a response to Memphis Depay’s comments on Monday night that suggested he was struggling to adapt to the pace of English football.

“He has to adapt, I agree, but that’s not only at pace but in different situations

"He has to adapt also to the culture of England and the Premier League as a person.”